Passion vs. Reason
After reading the story I feel as if the whole story is based on passion from beginning to the end. In the beginning of the story the old nanny is out walking the streets past her bed time as. The old nanny is being driven by passion to feel young again. Even the Cooper was fueled by “He was desperately in love, so tortured by his fatal passion that he had only a day or two to live in this Fleeting World” (Ihara Saikaku 594). The Cooper’s passion for Osen allows him to tell the old nanny how he is in love with Osen. After the old nanny lies about the qualities of the Cooper the old nanny even has Osen being passionate about person she does not know nor has ever seen. Osen passion for this mystery man she goes to the capitol city just to meet him. Kyushichi seems to hide his passion at first, but once they make it to the hotel he shows how he truly feels Osen. After kyushichi does not win Osen heart he shows resentment or reason; by not helping carry the heavy bundles, also making Osen and old nanny buy their own tea. In the end of the story Osen changes from being driven by passion to reason. She cheats on the Cooper with Chozaemon because the women were talking about her. “I shall make love to Chozaemon to teach that woman a lesson” (602). Osen later kills herself out of reason she knows that she will be executed.
I agree that the story was full of passion. It is kind of nice to read stories where the love reflected by the characters can do so many things, even end someone’s life. However in this case, the live that was ended was Osen’s, and for something that to me, is unreasonable. It also has a lot to do with society back then, and the way people interpret gossip and rumors: “’My sleeve is already wet with tears. Having suffered the shame, there is nothing left to lose.” (Saikaku 602). Osen was obviously very upset about Chozaemon’s wife thinking that she had something to do with her husband and was spreading it to everyone. In today’s society, if someone is making such remarks as Chozaemon’s wife was making about Osen, they would not make such a great impact, worth of a woman taking her own life. However, because of the time, place and culture this story took place, it was better for Osen to face death, than live without honor or a bad reputation.
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